Amalgamation table



June 4, 1963 Filed Nov. 2 1961 G. w. BERGGREN AMALGAMATION TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG-3 N g INV ENT OR awn/r m 552442! BY WM ATTORNEY June 4, 1963 G. w. BERGGREN 3,092,572

AMALGAMATION TABLE Filed Nov. 24, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR GPA/V7 W. 55 966 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,092,572 AMALGAMATION TABLE Grant W. Berggren, 404 N. 2nd St., Hamilton, Mont. Filed Nov. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 154,786 1 Claim. (Cl. 209-66) This invention relates to an amalgamation table for extracting precious metals from ore.

The process of extracting precious or other metals from ore by amalgamation using the herein described apparatus comprises the steps of depositing wet ore onto a mercury coated silver plated copper plate, and 1mpart- Another object of the invention is an amalgamation table having novel means for supporting the table on the frame.

Another object of the invention is an amalgamation table having novel means for imparting an orbital movement thereto.

metal is to be recovered.

Another object of the invention is an amalgamation table having novel mercury trap means to recover metal which does not amalgamate.

Another object of the invention is an amalgamation FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the amalgamation table constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan View of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrating details of construction.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the tray in which ore is deposited.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

table extend upwardly above the frame 12 and serve to support a feed hopper 16, the details and function of which will be later described.

Identical bearings indicated by numbers 18 through 25 are peripherally disposed and secured to the frame 12 movably supported on bearings 1825.

Secured to the frame 12 is a drive means 29 which imparts movement to the tray 30 on the bearings 18-25.

526-92572 Patented June 4, 1963 of different diameter pulleys 34, only one being shown for illustrative convenience. Spaced from the speed reduction unit 32 is a rotary crank pulley 38 mounted on frame 12. A pitman arm 40 is mounted eccentrically on the crank pulley and to the underside of the tray 30.

FIG 5 Removably supported in mounting grooves in the side walls 54 and 56 of the tray 30 is a frame 66 comprised of a pair of elongated side rails 68 and 70 joined by cross 78 and pipe sections 79 and to a source of fluid (not shown) by flexible conduit 80. Valves 82 are provided in and has an apron lilo secured thereto along the other side of the opening. The open ends of the tubular member 88 are normally closed by plugs which can be reing precious metals from (not shown). The feed hopper 16 has an adjustable feed gate 16 whereby the flow of ore therefrom can be regulated.

The ore is fed from the feed hopper 16 onto the silver plated copper plate 64 which has a coating of mercury thereon. The ore carrying the precious metal is washed by fluid expelled from the conduits 76 and is moved toward the open end 'of the tray 30. The washing action is enhanced by the orbital or panning movement of the tray. The precious metal in the ore is retained on the plate 64 and periodically scraped therefrom. The scraping of the amalgam from the plate 64 is easily accomplished by removing the frame 66 which carries the con duits 76.

The orbital or panning action of the tray 30 tumbles the wet ore and the water from the conduit 76 in many directions thereby preventing the ore from bedding. Since the precious metal isheavier than the ore itself it sinks to the bottom coming in contact with the live mercury spread on the silver plated copper plate 64 causing the same to amalgamate and stay thereon until scraped 01f at a later time. p

Since the slot 94 in the first tubular member 86 is relatively narrow it will catch and thereby save live mercury without allowing any of the ore to be washed into the catch box 100. When too much mercury is applied to the silvered plate 64 it will be lost in the liquid moving over the tray 30. Also, cold Water may flour some of the mercury which would also be lost if no means are provided to save it. The'slot in the second tubular member 86 being somewhat wider will catch any rusty precious metals that will not amalgamate.

Precious metal which has not been retained on plate the milling or grinding unit 64 is caught in the trap assembly 84 as the ore is Washed toward the open end of the tray 30. The first tubular member 86 catching the amalgam which has not remained on plate 64 and the second tubular member 88 catches the precious metal which will not amalgamate.

While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art, such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview of the appended claim.

' I claim:

An amalgamation table for extracting precious metals from an ore comprising a frame, bearings secured to said frame, and an amalgamation tray movably supported on said bearings, said tray having a bottom, side walls, an end wall at one end and being open at its other end, conduit means mounted in superimposed relation to said tray, said-conduit means having wall portions defining openings therein to direct jets of fluid onto said tray, ore feeding means positioned over said one end of said tray, drive means operatively secured to said tray to move the same on said hearings in an orbital path, and a trap assembly positioned adjacent said open end of said tray, said trap assembly including a first tubular member having means defining a narrow slot extending transversely of said tray, means operatively connected to said conduit means to drain said first tubular member, and a second tubular member having means defining a relatively wider slot extending transversely of said tray.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 249,791 Patten Nov. 22, 1881 287,195 Tobey Oct. 23, 1883 388,464 Talley Aug. 28, 1888 581,643 Wright Apr. 27, 1897 680,938 Paul Aug. 20, 1901 2,989,184 Gobatti June 20, 1961 

